Advanced - A: B: A: B:
Advanced - 小 太 三 A:
(E)
娘娘，皇上今天翻的是您的牌子，今兒晚上是娘 娘您侍寢。我給您准備好了沐浴熱水，放上了您 最愛的牡丹花瓣。 ´ ´ ` ´ ¯ f¯an de sh`ı n´ın de paizi, niangniang, huangsh ang j¯ıntian j¯ınr ´ ˇ n´ın zhunb ` wˇanshang sh`ı niangniang n´ın sh`ıqˇın. woˇ gei ˇ ei ˇ le muy ` ` ` de mud ¯ ¯ hao ı, f`ang shang le n´ın zu`ı ai a` u` reshuˇ ˇ anhu ` ban. My lady, the emperor has chosen you this evening. You shall serve him in the Imperial chambers. I’ ’ve prepared a warm bath for you, and I’ve prepared your favorite peony petals.
B:
瞧你這德性，好像比本宮還高興呢！怎麼聽你這 話像是說本宮沒伺候過皇上一樣？ ´ nˇı zhe` dexing, ´ ˇ ang ` ˇ ong ´ gaox` ¯ ¯ ıng ne! qiao haoxi bˇı beng hai ` ˇ ong ´ c`ıhou ` ¯ zˇenme t¯ıng nˇı zhe` hua` xiang sh`ı shuo¯ beng mei ´ guo huangshang y´ıy`ang? Look at you—you’re even happier than me! Why does it sound like you think I’ve never served the Emperor?
A:
哎呀，哎呀，奴才該死！奴才嘴笨！ ´ gai ` ¯ a, aiy¯ ¯ a, nuc ¯ sˇı! nucai aiy¯ zuˇı ben! ´ ai ´ Your humble servant deserves to die! Your humble servant spoke foolishly!
B:
給我一邊去！狗嘴裏吐不出象牙！
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
ˇ woˇ y¯ıbianr ˇ ` ¯ qu! gei ı li tubuch u¯ xiangy´ a! ` gouzuˇ ˇ Get out of my way! A filthy mouth like yours couldn’t say anything decent, anyway. [Lit：Dogs can’t spit out ivory!—Ed.]
A:
喳！ ¯ zha! Eek!
B:
慢著，小順子，本宮問你，最近皇上常去哪個宮 啊？ ` ˇ ˇ ong ` nˇı, zu`ıj`ın huangshang ´ ¯ manzhe, Xiaosh unzi, beng wen ` ´ ˇ ¯ chang qu` nage gong a? Wait a moment, Xiao Shunzi. Tell me, which lady has the Emperor been visiting the most lately?
A:
回娘娘，奴才聽說，皇上最近造訪最多的是皇后 的寢宮。 ´ ´ t¯ıngshuo, ´ ` ang ¯ huangshang hu´ı niangniang, nuc zu`ıj`ın zaofˇ ´ ai ´ ` de qˇıngong. ¯ zu`ı duo¯ de sh`ı huangh ou My lady, your humble servant has heard that the Emperor has been visiting the Empress’ chambers.
B:
都那麼久了，那沒用的東西也沒能給皇上生出個 一兒半女的。怎麼皇上還不把她打入冷宮？反而 又得寵了。
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
` ´ ong de dongxi ´ neng ´ ˇ ¯ name ¯ dou jiuˇ le, na` meiy` yˇe mei gei ´ ´ ban ` nuˇ¨ de. zˇenme huang´ ¯ huangshang sheng chu¯ ge y¯ı er ´ b`u baˇ ta¯ dar ˇ u` lengg ˇ ´ y`ou dech ´ ong ˇ ¯ shang hai ong? fˇaner le. It’s been so long now, and that useless thing still hasn’t been able to come up with a child for the Emperor. Why hasn’t the Emperor kicked her aside? Just the opposite– she’s enjoying his favors yet again.
A:
娘娘，奴才有一事，不知道該不該說？ ´ ´ yˇou y¯ı sh`ı, b`u zh¯ıdao ` gaib` ¯ ugai ¯ shuo? ¯ niangniang, nuc ´ ai My lady, there is something else. Your humble servant isn’t sure if he should tell you or not...
B:
說吧，甚麼事？ ´ shuo¯ ba, shenme sh`ı? Speak! What is it?
A:
奴才聽說，皇后一直懷不上龍子，是因為，太醫 給皇后熬的龍鳳保胎湯被人做了手腳。 ´ ` y¯ızh´ı huaibush ´ ` ´ ¯ huangh nucai t¯ıngshuo, ou ang longzˇ ı, sh`ı ´ ` taiy¯ ` ı gei ˇ huangh ´ ` ao ´ de longf` ´ eng baot ˇ ait ` ¯ ang ¯ y¯ınwei, ou bei ´ zuo` le shouji ˇ a. ˇ ren Your humble slave has heard that the reason the Empress has never produced any Imperial offspring is that someone has meddled with the Dragon-Phoenix soup that the palace doctor prepares for her.
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
B:
甚麼？誰那麼膽大包天啊？這要是被查出來，是 要被滅九族 的！小順子，這事非同小可，可不能 亂說。本宮現在問你，這消息是從哪裡聽來的， 可靠嗎？ ´ ´ name ` ˇ ab ` aoti ` cha´ ¯ an ¯ a? ¯ zhe` y`aosh`ı bei shenme? shei dand ` mieji ` uz ˇ chulai, sh`ı y`ao bei unzi, zhe` sh`ır f¯eiˇ u´ de! Xiaosh ` ¯ ´ ˇ e, kˇe b`uneng ´ ` ˇ ong ` ai ` wen ` nˇı, ¯ beng ¯ tongxi aokˇ luanshu o. xianz ´ ˇ t¯ınglai ´ de, kˇekao ` ma? ¯ zhe` xiaoxi sh`ı cong nali What? Who could be so bold? If they were discovered, their entire family would be annihilated! Xiao Shunzi, this is no small matter! You must not speak groundlessly! I’m asking you, where did you get this information? Is it reliable?
A:
宮裏現在有人在暗中調查這個事，而嫌疑最大的 是容娘娘。 ` ai ` yˇouren ´ zai ` anzh ` ` ´ ¯ ¯ gong lˇı xianz ong diaoch a´ zhe` ge sh`ır, er ´ ı zu`ıda` de sh`ı Rong ´ ´ xiany´ niangniang. There are people in the palace discreetly looking into this matter as we speak. The prime suspect is Lady Rong.
B:
哦？是她？哈哈哈哈，這狐狸精終於被我抓住把 柄了！好啊，小順子，幹得好！把這件事查清楚 了，本宮重重有賞！ ` woˇ zhuazh ¯ u` ¯ hah ¯ ah ¯ ah ¯ a, ¯ zhe` hul´ ¯ o? sh`ı ta? u´ bei ´ ıj¯ıng zhongy ˇ ıng le! hao ˇ a, ˇ ` de hao! ˇ ` sh`ı ¯ Xiaosh babˇ unzi, gan baˇ zhe` jian ` ˇ ong ` ` ˇ ¯ cha´ q¯ıngchuˇ le, beng zhongzh ongyˇ oushang!
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
Oh, it’s her? Ha-ha-ha-ha. Now I’ve finally got something on that little vixen! Good, Xiao Shunzi. Well done. When you’ve gotten to the bottom of this, there will be a great reward for you!
A:
謝娘娘！ ´ xie` niangniang! Thank you, my lady!
Key Vocabulary
牌子
´ paizi
sign
侍寢
sh`ıqˇın
to visit the Emperor in his chambers for his sexual pleasure
沐浴
muy ` u`
to take a bath
牡丹花瓣
` ¯ ¯ an mud ab ˇ anhu
peony petal
德性
´ dexing
appearance, way
伺候
` c`ıhou
to wait upon, to care for
狗嘴裏吐 不出象牙
ˇ gouzuˇ ı li tubuch u¯ ˇ ` xiangy´ a
a dog can’t spit out ivory– nothing good could come from a filthy mouth
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
慢著
` manzhe
slowly
造訪
` ang zaofˇ
to visit (formal)
寢宮
¯ qˇıngong
Imperial quarters
一兒半女
´ ban ` nuˇ¨ y¯ı er
children
冷宮
ˇ ¯ lengg ong
a position of low status (originally for concubines)
得寵
´ ong ˇ dech
to enjoy the favor of someone powerful
龍子
´ longzˇ ı
Emperor’s son
太醫
` ı taiy¯
Palace doctor
龍鳳保胎 湯
´ eng baot ˇ ai¯ longf` ¯ tang
Imperial fertility soup
做手腳
ˇ aˇ zuo` shouji
to meddle with, to tamper with
膽大包天
ˇ ab ` aoti ¯ an ¯ dand
nervy, bold
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
sleeping
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
滅九族
` uz mieji ˇ u´
to slaughter an entire family as punishment for offending the Emperor
非同小可
´ ˇ e f¯eitongxi aokˇ
no small matter
狐狸精
hul´ ´ ıj¯ıng
vixen, temptress
把柄
ˇ ıng babˇ
handle
重重有賞
` ` zhongzh ongyˇ ouˇ shang
There will be a great reward!
Supplementary Vocabulary
言歸正傳
` y´angu¯ızheng` zhuan
to get back to business, to return to the topic at hand
失寵
ˇ sh¯ıchong
to fall out of favor
服侍
fush` ´ ı
to wait upon, to attend to
侍候
` sh`ıhou
to care for, to look after
寢室
qˇınsh`ı
bedroom
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
(E)
娘娘，皇上今天翻的是您的牌子，今兒晚上是娘 娘您侍寢。我給您准備好了沐浴熱水，放上了您 最愛的牡丹花瓣。 ´ ´ ` ´ ¯ f¯an de sh`ı n´ın de paizi, niangniang, huangsh ang j¯ıntian j¯ınr ´ ˇ n´ın zhunb ` wˇanshang sh`ı niangniang n´ın sh`ıqˇın. woˇ gei ˇ ei ˇ le muy ` ` ` de mud ¯ ¯ hao ı, f`ang shang le n´ın zu`ı ai a` u` reshuˇ ˇ anhu ` ban. My lady, the emperor has chosen you this evening. You shall serve him in the Imperial chambers. I’ ’ve prepared a warm bath for you, and I’ve prepared your favorite peony petals.
B:
瞧你這德性，好像比本宮還高興呢！怎麼聽你這 話像是說本宮沒伺候過皇上一樣？ ´ nˇı zhe` dexing, ´ ˇ ang ` ˇ ong ´ gaox` ¯ ¯ ıng ne! qiao haoxi bˇı beng hai ` ˇ ong ´ c`ıhou ` ¯ zˇenme t¯ıng nˇı zhe` hua` xiang sh`ı shuo¯ beng mei ´ guo huangshang y´ıy`ang? Look at you—you’re even happier than me! Why does it sound like you think I’ve never served the Emperor?
A:
哎呀，哎呀，奴才該死！奴才嘴笨！ ´ gai ` ¯ a, aiy¯ ¯ a, nuc ¯ sˇı! nucai aiy¯ zuˇı ben! ´ ai ´ Your humble servant deserves to die! Your humble servant spoke foolishly!
B:
給我一邊去！狗嘴裏吐不出象牙！
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
ˇ woˇ y¯ıbianr ˇ ` ¯ qu! gei ı li tubuch u¯ xiangy´ a! ` gouzuˇ ˇ Get out of my way! A filthy mouth like yours couldn’t say anything decent, anyway. [Lit：Dogs can’t spit out ivory!—Ed.]
A:
喳！ ¯ zha! Eek!
B:
慢著，小順子，本宮問你，最近皇上常去哪個宮 啊？ ` ˇ ˇ ong ` nˇı, zu`ıj`ın huangshang ´ ¯ manzhe, Xiaosh unzi, beng wen ` ´ ˇ ¯ chang qu` nage gong a? Wait a moment, Xiao Shunzi. Tell me, which lady has the Emperor been visiting the most lately?
A:
回娘娘，奴才聽說，皇上最近造訪最多的是皇后 的寢宮。 ´ ´ t¯ıngshuo, ´ ` ang ¯ huangshang hu´ı niangniang, nuc zu`ıj`ın zaofˇ ´ ai ´ ` de qˇıngong. ¯ zu`ı duo¯ de sh`ı huangh ou My lady, your humble servant has heard that the Emperor has been visiting the Empress’ chambers.
B:
都那麼久了，那沒用的東西也沒能給皇上生出個 一兒半女的。怎麼皇上還不把她打入冷宮？反而 又得寵了。
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
` ´ ong de dongxi ´ neng ´ ˇ ¯ name ¯ dou jiuˇ le, na` meiy` yˇe mei gei ´ ´ ban ` nuˇ¨ de. zˇenme huang´ ¯ huangshang sheng chu¯ ge y¯ı er ´ b`u baˇ ta¯ dar ˇ u` lengg ˇ ´ y`ou dech ´ ong ˇ ¯ shang hai ong? fˇaner le. It’s been so long now, and that useless thing still hasn’t been able to come up with a child for the Emperor. Why hasn’t the Emperor kicked her aside? Just the opposite– she’s enjoying his favors yet again.
A:
娘娘，奴才有一事，不知道該不該說？ ´ ´ yˇou y¯ı sh`ı, b`u zh¯ıdao ` gaib` ¯ ugai ¯ shuo? ¯ niangniang, nuc ´ ai My lady, there is something else. Your humble servant isn’t sure if he should tell you or not...
B:
說吧，甚麼事？ ´ shuo¯ ba, shenme sh`ı? Speak! What is it?
A:
奴才聽說，皇后一直懷不上龍子，是因為，太醫 給皇后熬的龍鳳保胎湯被人做了手腳。 ´ ` y¯ızh´ı huaibush ´ ` ´ ¯ huangh nucai t¯ıngshuo, ou ang longzˇ ı, sh`ı ´ ` taiy¯ ` ı gei ˇ huangh ´ ` ao ´ de longf` ´ eng baot ˇ ait ` ¯ ang ¯ y¯ınwei, ou bei ´ zuo` le shouji ˇ a. ˇ ren Your humble slave has heard that the reason the Empress has never produced any Imperial offspring is that someone has meddled with the Dragon-Phoenix soup that the palace doctor prepares for her.
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
B:
甚麼？誰那麼膽大包天啊？這要是被查出來，是 要被滅九族 的！小順子，這事非同小可，可不能 亂說。本宮現在問你，這消息是從哪裡聽來的， 可靠嗎？ ´ ´ name ` ˇ ab ` aoti ` cha´ ¯ an ¯ a? ¯ zhe` y`aosh`ı bei shenme? shei dand ` mieji ` uz ˇ chulai, sh`ı y`ao bei unzi, zhe` sh`ır f¯eiˇ u´ de! Xiaosh ` ¯ ´ ˇ e, kˇe b`uneng ´ ` ˇ ong ` ai ` wen ` nˇı, ¯ beng ¯ tongxi aokˇ luanshu o. xianz ´ ˇ t¯ınglai ´ de, kˇekao ` ma? ¯ zhe` xiaoxi sh`ı cong nali What? Who could be so bold? If they were discovered, their entire family would be annihilated! Xiao Shunzi, this is no small matter! You must not speak groundlessly! I’m asking you, where did you get this information? Is it reliable?
A:
宮裏現在有人在暗中調查這個事，而嫌疑最大的 是容娘娘。 ` ai ` yˇouren ´ zai ` anzh ` ` ´ ¯ ¯ gong lˇı xianz ong diaoch a´ zhe` ge sh`ır, er ´ ı zu`ıda` de sh`ı Rong ´ ´ xiany´ niangniang. There are people in the palace discreetly looking into this matter as we speak. The prime suspect is Lady Rong.
B:
哦？是她？哈哈哈哈，這狐狸精終於被我抓住把 柄了！好啊，小順子，幹得好！把這件事查清楚 了，本宮重重有賞！ ` woˇ zhuazh ¯ u` ¯ hah ¯ ah ¯ ah ¯ a, ¯ zhe` hul´ ¯ o? sh`ı ta? u´ bei ´ ıj¯ıng zhongy ˇ ıng le! hao ˇ a, ˇ ` de hao! ˇ ` sh`ı ¯ Xiaosh babˇ unzi, gan baˇ zhe` jian ` ˇ ong ` ` ˇ ¯ cha´ q¯ıngchuˇ le, beng zhongzh ongyˇ oushang!
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
Oh, it’s her? Ha-ha-ha-ha. Now I’ve finally got something on that little vixen! Good, Xiao Shunzi. Well done. When you’ve gotten to the bottom of this, there will be a great reward for you!
A:
謝娘娘！ ´ xie` niangniang! Thank you, my lady!
Key Vocabulary
牌子
´ paizi
sign
侍寢
sh`ıqˇın
to visit the Emperor in his chambers for his sexual pleasure
沐浴
muy ` u`
to take a bath
牡丹花瓣
` ¯ ¯ an mud ab ˇ anhu
peony petal
德性
´ dexing
appearance, way
伺候
` c`ıhou
to wait upon, to care for
狗嘴裏吐 不出象牙
ˇ gouzuˇ ı li tubuch u¯ ˇ ` xiangy´ a
a dog can’t spit out ivory– nothing good could come from a filthy mouth
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
慢著
` manzhe
slowly
造訪
` ang zaofˇ
to visit (formal)
寢宮
¯ qˇıngong
Imperial quarters
一兒半女
´ ban ` nuˇ¨ y¯ı er
children
冷宮
ˇ ¯ lengg ong
a position of low status (originally for concubines)
得寵
´ ong ˇ dech
to enjoy the favor of someone powerful
龍子
´ longzˇ ı
Emperor’s son
太醫
` ı taiy¯
Palace doctor
龍鳳保胎 湯
´ eng baot ˇ ai¯ longf` ¯ tang
Imperial fertility soup
做手腳
ˇ aˇ zuo` shouji
to meddle with, to tamper with
膽大包天
ˇ ab ` aoti ¯ an ¯ dand
nervy, bold
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
sleeping
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
滅九族
` uz mieji ˇ u´
to slaughter an entire family as punishment for offending the Emperor
非同小可
´ ˇ e f¯eitongxi aokˇ
no small matter
狐狸精
hul´ ´ ıj¯ıng
vixen, temptress
把柄
ˇ ıng babˇ
handle
重重有賞
` ` zhongzh ongyˇ ouˇ shang
There will be a great reward!
Supplementary Vocabulary
言歸正傳
` y´angu¯ızheng` zhuan
to get back to business, to return to the topic at hand
失寵
ˇ sh¯ıchong
to fall out of favor
服侍
fush` ´ ı
to wait upon, to attend to
侍候
` sh`ıhou
to care for, to look after
寢室
qˇınsh`ı
bedroom
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
